Watching (and paying for) only what we want

[Mike Cleaver]

CRTC to mull choice in cable TV viewing

Picking What You Want

by Paul Vieira
Financial Post
Friday, July 06, 2007

OTTAWA - Canadian cable subscribers could be on the verge of being able to pick and choose whatever channels they want for their TV-viewing package under rule changes being contemplated by the CRTC.

If so, it could mark the end of a regulatory regime that saddles Canadian cable customers with channels they never wanted in the first place.

The scenario was laid out yesterday in a notice from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. That notice outlines the themes that will dominate the regulator's review of the cable and satellite TV sectors, and specialty TV.

The tone of the notice drew immediate applause from cable industry players. Said Ken Stein, senior vice-president of regulatory affairs at Shaw Communications Inc.: "This is a step in the right direction to give the broadcasting system back to the consumer."

The review, which will include a public hearing in January, is meant to update regulations that are perhaps outdated due to, among other things, advances in technology. But the regulator indicated the update to broadcast distribution rules might entail the elimination of many regulations now on the books.

As technology evolves, "industry players will be increasingly called upon to focus on the consumer. More and more in Canadian broadcasting, the consumer is in charge," the CRTC said in its notice.

The regulator said its review should produce rules that ensure a strong Canadian presence but "recognize the increasing autonomy of audiences and consumers, providing them with the greatest possible choice of services at affordable prices."

The country's largest cable operator, Rogers Communications Inc., said such changes could give it the flexibility needed to compete with increasingly popular new media platforms, such as the Internet, which are free from regulation.

"It will give consumers the ability to buy what they want," said Ken Engelhart, vice-president of regulatory affairs at Rogers. "I think it is important so that customers can remain satisfied with the Canadian broadcasting system."

Under current rules governing cable, a customer who wants a specific channel as part of his service is generally required to take a package of other channels -- whether they appeal to him or not -- at an extra cost. This is to partly ensure cable customers are receiving sufficient Canadian content, as envisaged under the Broadcasting Act.

Mr. Stein said such rules don't exist on other entertainment products consumers buy. "If you buy a ticket to the Toronto Blue Jays, no one forces you to buy a ticket for the local ballet."

Mr. Engelhart cited competition from Jump TV, an online broadcaster that sells ethnic stations to customers and let's them pick and choose. Meanwhile, Rogers is required to force a customer who wants an Italian service, like RAI International, to take the Canadian version of that channel, at an extra cost.

© National Post 2007

If this happens and it should happen, there are a lot of channels that will go dark because no one wants to pay for them.
I, for one, don't want ANY sports channels.
One CBC channel in English is enough for me as is one CTV channel.
I don't want or need any French or religious programming or any children's programming.
There are plenty of other channels that simply could go away and I wouldn't care.
Canadians are tired of being told what to watch and what to listen to on radio.
Let the consumer decide who lives or dies.